Marva Whitney, Soul Sister No. 1 in James Brown Revue, dies at 68

Marva Whitney, a fiery-voiced funk singer who toured and collaborated with James Brown -- along the way earning the nickname "Soul Sister #1" -- died Saturday at 68, according to a Facebook page dedicated to Whitney. "She left us with a legacy that will shine forever," the message reads.

A cause of death was not immediately known, however it is being reported that Whitney died from complications of pneumonia.

Whitney is best known for her version of "It's My Thing," which cracked the Hot 100 in 1969, and for the widely sampled track "Unwind Yourself," which can be heard on songs by The 45 Kings, DJ Kool and Mac Miller, among others, the Hollywood Reporter said.